Six Taiwanese face lengthy jail time for drugs charges in Australia

SYDNEY - Six Taiwanese men are facing life sentences after being charged with importing A$42 million (S$49 million) worth of methamphetamine into Australia, authorities said on Sunday.

The men were due to face a Sydney court on Sunday and could also receive fines of more than A$1 million if convicted of importing 50 kilogrammes (110 pounds) of the illegal drug, Australian Federal Police said in a statement.

Customs officials said they started their investigations when they inspected a consignment from China labelled as a "boiler" last month and found a "white crystalline substance" in it.

The substance was revealed after tests to be methamphetamine, police said.